2024-07-09
Proverbs 3:5 NKJV
The Bible says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” (vv. 5-6 NKJV). God wants you to trust Him. As long as you’re struggling to figure things out on your own, you’re not trusting God and you won’t have peace. You must trust Him with your health, your money, your relationships, and your future. Everything!
God never makes a mistake. All that happens in your life fits into His plan for you – even the problems and miseries and troubles you bring on yourself. He fits everything flawlessly into His plan for you (See Romans 8:28). And all He expects from you is to trust Him instead of attempting to figure everything out – that you acknowledge He is in control. When you do this, He promises to “make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:6 NIV).
When we aim at directing our own lives, we follow arbitrary paths filled with indecisiveness: “Should I do this or that? Should I go here or over there?” And it produces stress! But as soon as you trust in the Lord, He directs your paths and makes them successful, not stressful. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds” (Philippians 4:6-7 NIV).
Note the order – prayer first, then peace. So, if you’re not praying, you’re probably worrying. And worry is a worthless emotion – a waste! So, when pressure starts accumulating, instead of panicking, start praying! Prayer is a remarkable stress reliever.
Soul food: 1 Sam 24-26; Luke 5:27-39; Ps 110; Prov 17:15-17
2024-07-08
Psalm 46:11 NLV
Om vrede te hê, moet jy op God se teenwoordigheid fokus. Dit waarop jy kies om te fokus, spoor óf jou vrese, óf jou geloof aan. Die Bybel sê: ‘U bewaar elkeen wat op U vertrou in vrede, die mense wie se gedagtes op U gerig is’ (Jesaja 26:3 NLV). Die Psalmdigter sê: ‘God is ons toevlug en ons krag; in nood is Hy gereed om te help’ (Psalm 46:2 NLV). Later in dieselfde psalm herinner Hy ons: ‘Wees stil en weet Ek is God!..’ (vers 11 NLV).
Hierdie verse is in die tyd van Hiskia se koningskap geskryf. Gewapende magte van die vyand het Jerusalem omring. Die Israeliete was gespanne en het hierdie gebed gebid! Vyf minute voor die middaguur het God die Assiriërs met ‘n plaag getref en 185 000 van hulle het omgekom. Jerusalem is gered en almal was bly daaroor. Hierdie psalm help ons om te onthou dat God ons toevlug is. Maak nie saak hoe oorweldigend die omstandighede is nie, Hy is altyd by jou om te help. Hierdie psalm leer ons twee dinge om God se hulp in moeilike tye te ontvang.
Die eerste is om stil te wees. Baie van ons moeilikheid spruit uit ons onvermoë om stil te sit. Die tweede ding is dat ons moet weet dat Hy God is. Wees stil en weet. Wanneer jy op hierdie manier lewe, sal ‘…julle God se vrede beleef. Hierdie vrede is wonderliker as wat ‘n mens ooit kan dink. Omdat julle aan Christus behoort, sal die vrede van God julle harte en gedagtes soos ‘n veiligheidswag oppas’ (Filippense 4:7 NLV). Wanneer jy daaroor dink, is dit die enigste manier om te lewe!
Sielskos: 1 Sam 20:30-23:29; Luk 5:12-26; Ps 102:18-28; Spr 17:11-14
Psalm 46:10 NIV
To have peace you must focus on God’s presence. What you choose to focus on either fuels your fears or your faith. The Bible says, “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you” (Isaiah 26:3 NIV). That verse could be reduced to one sentence: “Get your focus in order – look at me.” The psalmist says, “God is… an ever-present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1 NIV). Later in that psalm, He reminds us, “Be still, and know that I am God” (v. 10 NIV). These verses were written during the time of Hezekiah. Enemy armed forces had surrounded Jerusalem and the Israelites were tense, so they prayed this prayer! And five minutes before noon, God struck the Assyrians with a plague and 185,000 of them perished. Jerusalem was saved, and everyone was joyful.
This psalm helps us remember that God is our refuge. No matter how overwhelming the odds seem, He is always with you to help. This psalm informs us of two things about receiving God’s help in times of trouble. The first thing is to “be still.” Many of our troubles come from our inability to sit still. The second thing is to “know that I am God.”
Did you know that in the middle of a hurricane or tornado there is a quiet center referred to as an eye? Likewise, though everything is blowing apart around you, you can have a quiet center. Be still and know. When you live this way, “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds” (Philippians 4:7 NIV). When you think about it, it’s the only sane way to live!
Soul food: 1 Sam 20:30-23:29; Luke 5:12-26; Ps 102:18-28; Prov 17:11-14
2024-07-07
Psalm 119:165 NIV
In order to find real peace, you must do two things:
(1) Live by the principles of God’s Word. “Great peace have those who love your law.” Peace arrives when you live in harmony with God. A new car comes with an owner’s manual. It tells you that for your car to perform well, you must do certain things at certain times. Likewise, the Bible is your owner’s manual for life. It contains guiding principles for finances, health, marriage, business, relationships, and considerably more. Just as your car drives more smoothly when you use it according to its design, so your life will go more smoothly when you live it according to God’s design.
(2) Accept God’s pardon. Guilt is the top destroyer of peace. When we feel guilty, we feel haunted by our past. That’s why we read about people who make amends for a wrong they committed thirty years earlier. They say, “I was living in hell all those years and had to get it off my chest.” The only way to have peace is to possess a clear conscience, and only God is able to give you that. “Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives… transgression?… You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy” (Micah 7:18 NIV). Notice, Micah reveals God is eager – ready and waiting – to clean your slate. It’s His personality. He enjoys forgiving. He owns a big eraser. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9 NIV).
Soul food: Matt 5:7; Matt 18:21-35; Ps 103:8-18; Lam 3:22-24
Psalm 119:165 AFR53
Om ware vrede te ontvang, moet jy twee dinge doen:
1) Volgens die beginsels van God se Woord lewe. ‘Die wat u wet liefhet, het groot vrede, en vir hulle is daar geen struikelblok nie.’ Vrede daag op wanneer jy in harmonie met God leef. ‘n Nuwe kar kom met ‘n handleiding vir die eienaar. Dit sê vir jou dat jy sekere dinge op sekere tye moet doen, sodat jou kar optimaal kan funksioneer. Soortgelyk is die Bybel jou handleiding vir die lewe. Dit bevat leidende beginsels oor finansies, gesondheid, die huwelik, besigheid, verhoudings en vele meer. Net soos jou motor gladder ry wanneer jy dit volgens sy ontwerp gebruik, so sal jou lewe gladder verloop wanneer jy dit volgens God se ontwerp uitleef.
2) God se vergifnis aanvaar. Skuldgevoelens vernietig vrede. Wanneer ons skuldig voel, word ons deur ons verlede agtervolg. Dis hoekom ons lees van mense wat vergifnis vra vir ‘n onreg wat hulle dertig jaar gelede gepleeg het. Hulle sê: ‘Ek het al hierdie jare in die hel geleef en moes dit van my gewete afkry.’ Die enigste manier om vrede te hê, is om ‘n skoon gewete te hê en slegs God is in staat om dit vir jou te gee. ‘Wie is ‘n God soos U? U vergewe sonde en straf nie die sonde of die oortredings van hulle wat oorgebly het nie. U is nie vir altyd kwaad nie, maar is liefdevol en getrou’ (Miga 7:18 NLV). Miga sê dat God gretig, gereed en wagtend is om jou lei skoon te vee. Dis sy persoonlikheid. Hy geniet dit om te vergewe. ‘As ons egter ons sondes bely, Hy is betroubaar en regverdig om ons sondes te vergewe en ons skoon te maak van elke verkeerde optrede’ (1 Johannes 1:9 NLV).
Sielskos: Matt 5:7; Matt 18:21-35; Ps 103:8-18; Klaag 3:22-24
